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The Cardinals haven’t had two players with at least 10 sacks in a season since 1984, when Al “Bubba” Baker and Curtis Greer did it. If Chandler Jones can notch at least a half-sack Sunday in Los Angeles, he and Markus Golden (who has 10 sacks already) will end that drought. The two will be linked forever in that regard — even as they are already linked now, by their own choice.

“They’re like stepbrothers walking around since day one,” defensive coordinator James Bettcher said. “They have a great camaraderie, they’ve become close friends on and off the field. … You can see it.”

Jones said Golden reached out to him as soon as the Cards traded for Jones last March and “we’ve been tight ever since.”

“We are just two guys, we’re good friends,” Golden said. “We like the same things, we like to do the same stuff, we play the same position. We’ve got a lot in common. And Chandler is just an all-around cool dude.”

Does that relationship help on the field? “You play for your brother, for sure,” Jones said. Golden said it does help with communication, but in the end, the sacks are coming because that is what he and Jones are paid to do.

It is really hard to imagine AZ drafting a cornerback in the first round. Corey Davis is a guy that would be very hard to pass up on. He is the best WR in this draft class. He is young, smart, and productive.

Hard to imagine AZ drafting a cornerback in the first round??? Seriously? When Larry comes back (he will, no way he is walking away from that much $), and when Gresham is resigned the WR/TE group will be fine, CB is more a priority for next year and this draft has plenty of solid CB’s coming out, just watch this years Fiesta Bowl. Cards will be drafting between 11-15 once they beat the Rams. Plus, Keim/BA have a history of taking WR’s in the middle to late rounds. We can talk more draft starting next week.

Now IF Larry does retire, I agree with you and I like C. Davis who should be available by the time the Cards draft.

The Cardinals will have a lot of work to do before free agency starts to keep the core of their defense intact. Defensive end Calais Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson, who is having a breakout year, will also be free agents.

Jones, who was acquired in March from the Patriots for a 2016 second-round pick (61st overall) and guard Jonathan Cooper (seventh overall pick in the 2013 draft), is the best edge rusher Arizona has had in quite some time. He has eight sacks this season. By demonstrating that his pass-rushing ability is transferrable to a different defensive scheme, Jones is putting himself in line to get a deal comparable to the five-year, $85 million contract with $52.5 million in guarantees that Olivier Vernon received from the Giants as a free agent.

Teez Tabor is talented but has a lot of the off field baggage. Quincy Wilson is not guaranteed to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. Sidney Jones has the potential to be great but is he just a product of the system? Budda Baker, Kevin King, and all of their top notch prospects entering the NFL Draft. I know this can apply to all of the other DBs as well but everything should be considered. Would could look into FA as well for those big name CBs.

In the 2016 NFL Draft, AZ didn’t draft based off of need. DT Robert Nkemdiche was drafted because he was a projected top 10 pick and also he offered pass rush. The DL depth was fine but obviously they were looking for an upgrade for the future.
Now I look at the 2017 NFL Draft the same way. Corey Davis is young, big, tall, fast smart. Everything AZ wants in a WR. He has been very consistent and has displayed NFL quality traits at his time at Western Michigan. Larry Fitzgerald will retire soon, John Brown is struggling with his sickle cell trait, Jaron Brown will be returning from an injury, & JJ Nelson is fast but more fit for the slot due to his small size. Teams will regret passing on Davis. He will be great. I would be fine if AZ drafted a CB in the 1st but I feel there will be many good CBs in the later round.

I’m not saying Davis is not going to be productive, but he is a far distance from being a shore thing. Here are things to consider about Davis.

1. (Davis) he admits, “I’ve always hated school, I always hate going to classes,”
Why do you consider him smart? As a kid, he skipped school often.

2. Plays at Western Michigan. He plays against Ball State, Akron Zips, Kent st, and Toledo Rockets. Not exactly pro CBs lining up against him.

3. Western Michigan runs a spread offense, which pads numbers.

4. Davis older brother was a star at Western Michigan and went on to be on the Jets practice squad. Corey’s teammate, who had huge stats was a 7th round pick by the bears.

5. He gets all his catches off his great route running and separation. But he is not the guy who wins one on one battles on jump balls or contested balls. What happens when NFL CBs, who study film and can run play against him? Can he get that separation?

Now, he is a polished route runner and has great hands. He is perfect for the slot, in the same way as Fitz has played it. But there are questions is he could grow into a number one receiver. When picking in round one, I do not like question marks.

I think if he can run under 4.5 and does measure at 6’3″ , he will climb into the first round. But even Randy Moss (Marshall) as a receiver, couldn’t break the top 15 in the draft. Antonio Brown, who was lightning at Central Michigan was a 6th rounder. I just do not like him as a top 15 pick. (where the cards will be).

As for “D’s” comments about CB, it would be hard to pass on Teez Tabor or Marlon Humphrey (I think they both are gone before we pick). I get it. They are shut down guys and would save money from signing a CB. The only issue to me is, who is the #1 receiver in 2018? There are a lot of number 2 and 3’s in rounds 2 and after and a lot of #2’s in FA.

What is your feeling on Kevin Minter? Do the cards want to resign him?

the big question is what will it take financially? I mean, Donte Hightower is comparable in stats this year (in 12 games) and is projected to get 7-9 million a year. Tell me the cards aren’t looking to sign Minter to that.